Sophia

 

 

"Do you think Nicholas has slept with more women than you have?"

Crew starts coughing. "I just took a drink of coffee, Sophia. Your timing is shit. Why the fuck would you ask me a question like that?"

I squint. "You're a man, Crew."

His fingers run along his jaw. "You're correct. I'll ask my question again. Why the hell would you ask me if I've fucked more women than Nick has?"

"What's it like to sleep with so many people?"

"What's it like to ignore every question your best friend asks you?"

"Cadence is my best friend, not you."

"Tell her that if you want, but you and I know the truth."

I smile. "His number is higher than mine."

"The old lady sitting behind us probably has a number higher than you. The guy with the hunch back over in the corner does too."

"You're not funny." I shake my head. "I'm serious."

"You're self-conscious." He picks up the cup of coffee in front of him. "Don’t talk while I drink. This shirt cost me more than your first car."

I wait until he swallows. "What if he wakes up one day and realizes I'm boring in bed?"

His brows perk. "You're boring in bed? I wouldn't have guessed that. I pegged you as a freak."

"You're disgusting."

"Because I'm a freak in bed? Don't knock it until you've tried it."

"I'll never try it, Crew."

"The feeling is mutual, Soph. I care about you too much to cross that line."

I take comfort in that. I know that he doesn’t view me that way and I'm grateful. If he did, I wouldn't be having this conversation with him. "He mentioned the idea of fucking in public."

He doesn't flinch.

"You've done that?" I whisper as I lean over the table. "Have you done that, Crew?"

"Twice this week alone."

I sip on the mug of tea I ordered. "No details please."

"I don't fuck and tell." He shoots a smile at a middle-aged woman passing our table.

"I can't do things like that." I pull on a strand of my hair. "I like him a lot and if I'm not what he wants or needs, I'd rather know now."

"You should be having this conversation with Nick," he points out. "If you can't talk to him about stuff like this, you two are doomed."

"It's not always easy for me to talk about sex," I admit on a sigh.

"Why?"

I don't answer him. I can't. It's too personal of a conversation for me to have with him.

"You don’t have to tell me anything." He straightens his tie. "Talk to Nick. The guy is head over heels for you."
"Is there anything a woman would tell you that would make you not want her?"

"If I cared for that woman the way Nick cares for you, I doubt like hell there would be."

I look at him. "You're a good friend."

"I'm the best." He finishes the last swallow of coffee at the bottom of his cup. "I'm here whenever you need me."

"Don't tell Nicholas we talked about this, Crew."

"You're not going to make me pinky swear to that, are you?"

"If I asked you to, you would." I wiggle my left pinky at him.

"You're fucking right I would." He stands and leans down to kiss my forehead. "Trust in Nick. Whatever you need to tell him, he'll understand."

I nod.

"And Sophia?" He turns back just as he starts to walk away. "My number has got to be higher than Nick's and when I stop and think about all the women I've fucked it makes me feel like shit."

He doesn't give me a chance to respond before he exits the café and heads up Broadway.

 

***

 

"You're ahead of schedule with your designs." Mr. Foster stands next to me as we look at the design board I created for Ella Kara's launch. "You only have two open spots, Sophia. I'm tempted to suggest we expand the line to four more pieces, but that's pressure I'm not sure you can handle."

Apparently, the man doesn't know me very well. "I have six more in mind."

"Six?" He steps toward the white board. "Tell me about them."

"I can do better than that." I reach for my sketchpad. "I've already chosen the fabrics. I've attached a swatch to each page and you can see the notes at the bottom that explain the accessories I feel would best complement the core design elements of the pieces."

He takes the pad from my hands and skims through the pages I've dog-eared. "This is your best work to date. Are you confident you can get these completed by launch?"

I'm certain I can have them all complete by two weeks before launch, but I don't allow my cockiness to shine through. "I can, sir."

"Move ahead on this." He hands me back my sketchpad. "I'll have Sasha assign you another two assistants."

I can use the help. I'm grateful for it too. "I'll work hard on getting these done as soon as possible, sir."

"Good." He turns to face me. "I understand that you're seeing Nicholas again."

"I am." I busy myself with the piece of fabric that's currently taking up more than half of my workstation. I'll be transforming into a strapless dress. "We've been hanging out."

"Isla would like to have you both over for dinner next week if that works for you two."

It's our first official invitation as a couple. I can't help but smile. "I'll ask Nicholas when I see him. Do you have a particular evening in mind for that?"

"Wednesday," he says without hesitation.

I know the offer has a lot more to do with Nicholas than me. Mr. Foster has never invited me anywhere, but to the party he hosted to celebrate the upcoming launch of Ella Kara.

I know that they view me as the most direct path to spend time with their favorite author.  I don't mind. I like the idea of socializing with the Fosters outside of work hours.

"I'll check with Nicholas and let you know."

"I look forward to getting to know you both better, Sophia."

I look forward to the look on Nicholas's face when he realizes that Isla Foster is an even bigger fan of his than her husband.